30.08.2005 – 08:12

Wiener Städtische Allgemeine Versichererungs AG

euro adhoc: Wiener Städtische
Financial Figures/Balance Sheet
Wiener Städtische Group in the First Half of 2005: Strong Increase in Group Profit - Forecast for the Financial Year 2005 Significantly Raised. Upsurge in Premiums Due to Life Insurance

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc.
  The issuer is responsible for the content of this announcement.

30.08.2005

With this half-year interim report, for the first time a consolidated
presentation of the Group has been produced in accordance with the
valuation guidelines set forth by the International Financial
Reporting Standard (IFRS). Up to now, reports on Wiener Städtische
Group’s results were prepared on the basis of accounting rules of
the Austrian Commercial Code (HGB). The conversion to IFRS means that
the results of the entire Wiener Städtische Group are reported in
accordance with international standards.

THE GROUP’S FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2005 AT A
GLANCE:

The Group was able to achieve a strong increase in consolidated
earned premiums by 18.9 percent to EUR 2.44 billion. (The extended
Group’s non-consolidated gross premiums written which, aside from the
Group companies also comprise other participations in insurance
companies, rose by 19.1 percent to EUR 2.81 billion.)

The Group’s consolidated profit on ordinary activities - for the
first time on an IFRS basis - amounted to EUR 125.26 million. Thus, a
significant increase of close to EUR 80  million was achieved
compared to the reporting period of the previous year.

The Group’s financial result posted an increase of about 20 percent
to EUR 305.49 million.

In the first half of the current year, the Group’s combined ratio
after reinsurance (not including investment income) continued to
stand at about 97 percent.

"Over the first six months of the current year, we charted a highly
successful course and in terms of premium volume and the Group’s
profit on ordinary activities on an IFRS basis we are ahead of our
plan right now," commented Karl Fink, Deputy CEO of Wiener
Städtische. "In view of this excellent development, we expect Group
profit for the financial year 2005, which was previously forecast at
roughly EUR 175 million, to rise significantly to about EUR 200
million."

Expansion steps undertaken by the Group in 2005 in the Czech Republic
(Ceska podnikatelska), Poland (Benefia Non-Life, Benefia Life, Royal
Polska, takeover of the majority stake in Compensa Non-Life), Romania
(Omniasig Group), Croatia (Cosmopolitan Life) and Ukraine (Globus,
Kniazha) have not been included in Group consolidation as of yet.

* in principle, without deferral of acquisition costs

Wiener Städtische Allgemeine Versicherung AG
A-1010 Vienna, Schottenring 30
ISIN: AT0000908504

Our press releases can be found also under
http://www.wienerstaedtische.at

end of announcement                               euro adhoc 30.08.2005 07:39:07

Further inquiry note:

Wiener Städtische Presseabteilung
Mag. Barbara Hagen-Grötschnig
Tel.: (01) 531 39-1027
Fax: (01) 531 39-3134
E-Mail: b.hagen@staedtische.co.at

Branche: Insurance
ISIN: AT0000908504
WKN:
Index: ATX Prime
Börsen: Berliner Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse / free trade
Wiener Börse AG / official market

Original-Content von: Wiener Städtische Allgemeine Versichererungs AG, übermittelt durch news aktuell